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Press Release

On 15-17 November 2011, the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) will be proud to honour the most innovative performers in European public administration with the prestigious European Public Sector Award 2011. This is an award for the best and most innovative public sector performers in the fields of: Smart Public Service Delivery in a Cold Economic Climate; Opening up the Public Sector through Collaborative Governance; and Going Green: Concrete Solutions from the Public Sector. The highlights of this international event will take place at three different venues in Maastricht: the Town Hall of Maastricht, the European Institute of Public Administration headquarters and the Provincial Government Buildings on the Meuse.

On Tuesday 15 November at the Maastricht Town Hall, the EPSA 2011 Best Practice Certificates will be announced to the respective delegations by Mr Alexander Heichlinger (AT), Manager of EPSA, preceded by speeches from our host, the Mayor of Maastricht, Onno Hoes, and our Director-General, Prof. Dr Marga Pröhl. The evening reception will also be used to promote the Maastricht + Euregio Meuse-Rhine candidacy to become European Capital of Culture in 2018.

On Wednesday 16 November, the three thematic workshops at EIPA, during which the 15 nominees will have the chance to present their respective achievements, will allow the current “trends in practice” to be highlighted in terms of carrying out and delivering ambitious public modernisation projects in the current economic times. On the evening of the same day, a joint dinner at the Château Neercanne will bring together all the guests with a keynote dinner address by Mr S?awomir Brodzi?ski (PL), Minister within the Chancellery of the Prime Minister from the Polish Presidency.

The three winners - one from each theme - will be announced during the Award Ceremony that will take place on 17 November 2011at the historic Provincial Government Buildings on the Meuse in Maastricht. Among the high-level political personalities that have already confirmed their presence, we can mention Mr Theo Bovens (NL), Governor and Queen’s Commissioner for the Province of Limburg; Mr Koos Richelle (NL), Director-General, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission; Ms Beate Lohmann (DE), Head of Directorate-General Administrative Modernisation;Administrative Organisation, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Berlin; and Bernard Bot (NL), Former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs. In addition, during the morning plenary session, a video message by Mr Maroš Šef?ovi? (SK), Vice-President of the European Commission, Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, Brussels, will be delivered to the whole audience, demonstrating also his support to this scheme.

The EPSA 2011 is an award for outstanding administrative performances across all levels of the public sector. For more information, please consult: www.epsa2011.eu

Note for the editors & INVITATION TO PRESS:

Accredited press is invited to attend the main parts of this programme and the press conference (English spoken):